Curriculum
Introduction
One of the primary functions of colleges and universities is to educate students. By training and educating future leaders, scholars, workers, and professionals; higher education institutions are uniquely positioned to understand and address sustainability challenges. Institutions that offer courses covering sustainability issues help equip their students to lead society to a sustainable future.
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Group Projects for a Sustainability Symposium
- Eastern Connecticut State University (CT)
Since we have 240 students enrolled in sections of the introductory sustainable energy course and 40 sustainable energy studies majors in upper division courses, we put on a Sustainability Symposium ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Assessment of Competency-based Sustainability Learning to Foster Systems Thinking and Critical Thinking
- Michigan State University (MI)
A land-grant university launched a competency-based undergraduate sustainability program in fall 2010. The approach reflects an emphasis on fostering the learning paradigm that links the domains of learner, assessment, knowledge ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability beyond the campus with service-learning: Case study with village street trees
- Colgate University (NY)
The Environmental Studies Program at our university is emphasizing community-based service and research in a recently-revised curriculum. A required service-learning course connects students with the sustainability mission of our institution ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Framework for Integrating Sustainability Education, Research, Engagement, and Operations through Experiential Learning
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
- CHA (NY)
This paper summarizes the University of Illinois' four-step strategy for experiential learning, integrating research, education, engagement, and operations. As a first step in this strategy, a task force created a ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Student Designed Sustainability Curriculum Intended to Create Shift in Campus Culture
- Babson College (MA)
Creating a culture of sustainability is a challenge for all colleges. The Eco Reps here recognized this problem and strived to create a solution to generate a positive culture of ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Internships to Implement Institutional Change: Sustainability on a Shoestring
- Ohio Dominican University (OH)
While many institutions are developing sustainability offices or hiring sustainability coordinators, economic constraints may play a role in limiting this option for all universities. In order to begin institutional reporting ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Weaving Sustainability Education through the Undergraduate Curriculum
- Ohio Dominican University (OH)
As centers of education, research, and outreach, universities have the potential to become the catalyst in a change to more sustainable societies. The university provides a learning laboratory for combining ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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An Interdisciplinary Sustainability Coordinator Associate of Applied Science at Lane Community College
- Lane Community College (OR)
The Sustainability Coordinator Associate of Applied Science is an interdisciplinary degree developed through a collaborative process. It is the first program of its kind in the nation. Unlike other, discipline-specific ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Using STARS to transform sustainability pedagogy
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
STARS is being adopted across the country by institutions wishing to assess sustainability initiatives in education, operations, and research. A key attribute of STARS educational assessment is the classification of ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Realizing sustainability across curricula and campuses, lessons from George Mason University in Northern Virginia
- George Mason University (VA)
In 2007, the university leaped into sustainability initiatives with a commitment to climate neutrality, hiring of full-time energy and sustainability managers, and creation of "sustainability across the curriculum" faculty workshops ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Collaborative Sustainable Building Practice: Innovative Curriculum Design
- Cornell University (NY)
There is no doubt that the unprecedented challenge of sustainable development calls for cross-disciplinary collaboration. For the building sector, recognizing the fact that technological solutions for low-energy high-performance buildings have ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Campus Greenhouse Provides Local Food and Research on Vegetable Production in Cold Climates
- Clarkson University (NY)
A student team designed and built a 450 sq. ft. pilot greenhouse to test the feasibility of maximizing produce yields while minimizing energy requirements for local food production in cold ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Natures Coordinate System: Vertexia, Vector Equilibrium, C60 carbon molecule, explained using hands on modeling techniques.
- Buckminster Fuller Institute (NY)
The basis of Natures Coordinate System comes from understanding the topological reasoning of R. Buckminster Fuller. He used the terminology "Explorations in the Geometry of Thinking" as the subtitle to ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Engaged Scholarship for Sustainability: University of New Hampshire's Initiative to Facilitate Regional Food System Collaboration
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
Food Solutions New England (FSNE) is an example of a university-based effort to advance regional food system sustainability through collaboration using an engaged scholarship model. Engaged scholarship promotes mutually beneficial ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Bridging Operations and Academics: Princeton University Sustainability Working Group Initiatives and Collaborations
- Princeton University (NJ)
Are sustainability endeavors with inclusive and comprehensive scope - bridging across operations, administration, academics and student life - more effective at accelerating culture change than those that are focused on single facets ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Studying Sustainability Abroad with a European Perspective - Case Stories and Best Practices
- Danish Institute for Study Abroad (Hovestaden)
Students and faculty often look to Europe for best practices when working with sustainability issues such as renewable energy, public policy, food systems, corporate social responsibility, climate change and overall ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Using the 'Faculty Sustainability Ambassador' Model to Catalyze Sustainability Curriculum Initiatives
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania (PA)
This panel discussion will introduce the 'Faculty Sustainability Ambassador' model as an effective strategy for catalyzing campus-wide sustainability curriculum initiatives. In this case, a small internal grant provided stipends to ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability Course Inventory as a Foundation for Sustainability and Environmental Program Development using STARS
- Simon Fraser University (BC)
Simon Fraser University, in Vancouver, Canada, recently conducted an inventory of sustainability-related, sustainability-focused and environment courses as part of the requirements of the STARS accreditation process. The results of the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Infusing the Study of Sustainable Design Methodology and Epistemology into the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum
- Maryville College (TN)
Abstract: Arguably one of the most challenging places to infuse sustainable design methodology and epistemology, yet one of the most logical, is among the 225 liberal arts colleges and universities ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Pushing Sustainable Development to the Outer Limits
- College of Menominee Nation (WI)
Sustainable development is predominantly thought of in terms of alternative energy, recycling, food security, biodiversity, waste reduction and green building products. For the past 7 years I have taught an ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The NSSE Sustainability Education Consortium: A First Year Report
- Green Mountain College (VT)
In fall 2010, eight institutions formed a consortium to assess student engagement in sustainability education across the curriculum. The consortium adds 20 sustainability questions to the National Survey of Student ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Infusing Sustainability Through the General Education Curriculum
- Ramapo College of New Jersey (NJ)
As pressures on global and local systems mount, and as population and consumption increase world-wide, the imperative for sustainability education gains increasing urgency. More than educating those interested in, or ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Academic Infusion of Sustainability: Leading Faculty and Curriculum Developers Share Best Practices
- Ball State University (IN)
- Alliance to Save Energy (CA)
Training emerging professionals about sustainability concepts needs to happen both in and out of the classroom in order to meet ambitious national workforce education and training goals. The process of ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Zero energy home constructed by students built to NAHB green standards
- Alfred State College (NY)
The college has been constructing homes with a student workforce as part of the curriculum since 1966 and selling them to the public. House number 51 is built to the ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Enhancements of Marina Piccola, the ferry boat terminal for Sorrento, Italy
- Alfred State College (NY)
Architecture, business and interior design students, studying abroad in Sorrento, Italy, are working collectively to create proposals for upgrades, physical improvements and expansion of the current port facility which will ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Remote Controlled 2-Axis Photovoltaic Mount with Metering
- Alfred State College (NY)
Senior students designed a remote controlled azimuth and altitude adjusting PV mount. The project allows students in an alternative energy course to change the PV module's slope and azimuth ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building Pathways to Green Careers: Transforming Campus Service Learning into Green Workforce Training
- Alliance to Save Energy (CA)
The demand for a highly skilled workforce in the energy sector and green industries is rapidly growing as the nation moves towards a greener economy. Students involved in our multi-campus ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Broadening the Boundaries of Campus: How Far Should Sustainability Go?
- Alma College (MI)
Alma College, like many small, liberal arts institutions, is tucked away among the rural small towns that surround it. These campuses serve as cultural centers for the community, but what ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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AASHE Curriculum Convocation
- Antioch University, New England (NH)
Advancing sustainability education through the development of dynamic and academically rich curriculum is a strong priority of AASHE. What is needed is curriculum that prepares learners for living in a ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Five Year Retrospective of Teaching Sustainable Building Design and Construction
- Appalachian State University (NC)
This presentation will focus on the curriculum development and implementation of an undergraduate and graduate level course titled Sustainable Building Design and Construction. The focus of this course is on ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Ten-Year Vision: A Global Network of Centers for Regenerative Studies
- Ball State University (IN)
As noted in the writings of David Orr, our built environments teach. A proposed global network of Centers of Regenerative Studies would do just that - in real time and vicariously ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Best Practices in Global Sustainability: A Course Offering
- Bryant University (RI)
As a result of this slow economy, university resources are limited and most schools experienced several budget cuts. Therefore, the authors decided to streamline efforts in satisfying the three pillars ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Charting Pathway into a Sustainable Future: Reforming General Education
- California State University, Chico (CA)
The next generation will confront an increased number of global issues that interface the complexities of socioeconomic perspectives, environmental stability, poverty and development. Recently we undertook a general education reform ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Extending our Reach: Taking Sustainability into the Community
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
The sustainability charge at this state university is led by the Institute for Sustainability whose mission is to promote, facilitate, and develop educational, research, and University and community programs related ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Learning from the Students: Aligning Sustainable Campus Design and Curriculum Development
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
As a broad concern, sustainable campus design refers to universities' (1) curriculum and research programs tailored to address sustainability; (2) sensitive use of energy and water, innovative waste management, efficiency ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Faculty Development for Sustainability Across the Curriculum
- Calvin University (MI)
The five panelists, faculty at a MidWest comprehensive liberal arts college, were participants in a cross-disciplinary workshop enacting the idea of sustainability across the curriculum. The workshop, which grew out ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Prairie Project: Place-Based Faculty Development for Global Sustainability Education
- Central College (IA)
Today there is an urgent need to provide global sustainability education to all college students through a curriculum that is integrative, transdisciplinary, and addresses all three dimensions of sustainability: ecological ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Rethinking Education: Building for a Sustainable Future
- Chatham University (PA)
This session will tell the story of the creation of a new "ground up" School of Sustainability and the Environment (SSE) that will integrate the principles of sustainability and across ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability as a design challenge: Learning by doing at the Columbus College of Art & Design
- Columbus College of Art & Design (OH)
Sustainability programs are rapidly growing in America's colleges of art and design. Because artists and designers are the people who choose the materials used to make almost everything, sustainability ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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A Pedagogical Model for Successful Integration of Sustainability Across the Undergraduate Curriculum
- Creative Change Educational Solutions (MI)
Think sustainability in the curriculum, and you may think "science"--arguably the "obvious" disciplinary home. But the interdisciplinary nature of sustainability in higher education offers faculty from across the curriculum ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Ecological Economics 101: Integrating Core Principles into Science and Social Science Courses
- Creative Change Educational Solutions (MI)
For sustainability to take hold across the curriculum, educators must gain the skills to integrate ecological economics concepts into science and humanities courses. Yet the disciplinary boundaries of secondary and ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Sustainability as a Study Abroad Experience in Europe
- Danish Institute for Study Abroad (Hovestaden)
DIS - Danish Institute for Study Abroad has created a unique opportunity for American undergraduate students through their sustainable development program in Copenhagen. This is one of the first semester long ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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The Laboratory of Democracy: Sustainability Research, Education and Action at the State Level
- DePauw University (IN)
College students often feel they can do very little to effect political change beyond their local communities and campuses. Traditional political internships sometimes provide glimpses into the inner-workings of politics ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Experiencing Sustainability: Thinking Deeper About Experiential Education in Higher Education
- Earlham College (IN)
Jack Turner once wrote "we treat the natural world according to our experience of it."" How are our students "experiencing sustainability" in U.S. colleges and universities? With the rise ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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City Studio Vancouver: The City is the Classroom
- Emily Carr University of Art & Design (BC)
Vancouver, BC is often ranked as one of the world's most livable cities because, as ecological footprint inventor and Vancouver Professor Bill Rees has noted, "25 or 30 years ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Eat Local, Live Local, Teach Local: Curriculum for Sustainability
- Frostburg State University (MD)
Developing curriculum for sustainability presents a new challenge for modern instructors: getting students to think more locally in order to appreciate the global consequences of their actions. For many faculty ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Growing community: healthcare sustainability in higher education
- Georgetown University (DC)
Higher education is evolving to include healthcare sustainability training. At its core, sustainability is a natural component of healthcare. Sustainability supports the basic healthcare mission to provide safe, quality, compassionate ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Building Automation Systems - A New Program for Sustainability and Technical Education
- Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GA)
A two-year vocational college located just outside of Atlanta, GA is developing innovative academic programs to serve energy efficiency technology industries. In particular, the Building Automation Systems (BAS) program has ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Inter-Institutional and Interdisciplinary Collaborations for Developing Sustainability Curriculum- a Unique Role for a Technical College.
- Georgia State University (GA)
The metro region of Atlanta, GA is home to a wide range of institutions of higher education. Inter-institutional collaborations can an important mechanism towards enhancing sustainability literacy. A 2-year vocational ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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Illinois Green Economy Network- Greening Your Curriculum Faculty Development Program
- Green Economy (MA)
This panel presentation will address the role of higher education in sustainability and green economy education. In 2010, in partnership with 14 Illinois community colleges, the Illinois Green Economy Network ...
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.
All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.
AC 1: Academic Courses
- Percentage of courses that are sustainability course offerings
- Percentage of academic departments with sustainability course offerings
- Inventory of sustainability course offerings (upload)
- Website URL - Sustainability course offerings
AC 2: Learning Outcomes
- Description of institution level sustainability learning outcomes
- List of degree programs that require an understanding of the concept of sustainability
- Percentage of students who graduate from programs that require an understanding of sustainability
- Website URL - Sustainability learning outcomes
AC 3: Undergraduate Program
- First sustainability-focused undergraduate degree program
- Second sustainability-focused undergraduate degree program
- Third sustainability-focused undergraduate degree program
- First sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration
- Second sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration
- Third sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration
AC 4: Graduate Program
- First sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program
- Second sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program
- Third sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program
- First sustainability-focused graduate-level minor or concentration
- Second sustainability-focused graduate-level minor or concentration
- Third sustainability-focused graduate-level minor or concentration
AC 5: Immersive Experience
- Description of the sustainability-focused immersive program(s)
- Second sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program
- Third sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program
AC 6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment
- Copy of the sustainability literacy assessment (upload)
- Copy of the sustainability literacy assessment (description)
- Website URL - Assessment of sustainability literacy
AC 7: Incentives for Developing Courses
- Description of the course development incentives
- Website URL - Incentives for developing sustainability courses
AC 8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.